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Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, Paul Freeman, Wolf Kahler ... see more see more... , John Rhys-Davies , Ronald Lacey , Anthony Higgins , Alfred Molina , Vic Tablian , Ishaq Bux , Anthony Chinn , Patrick Durkin , Don Fellows , Ted Grossman , William Hootkins , John Rees , Bill Reimbold , Terry Richards , Pat Roach , Matthew Scurfield , Kiran Shah , Fred Sorenson , Eddie Tagoe , Rocky Taylor , Tony Vogel , Vic Armstrong , Peter Brace , Gerry Crampton , Martin Grace , George Harris , Tutte Lemkow , Terry J. Leonard , Frank Marshall , Sergio Mioni , Chuck Waters , Bill Weston , Paul Weston , Jack Dearlove , Steve Hanson , Billy Horrigan , Mary Selway , Mike Fenton , Jane Feinberg , Malcolm Weaver , Reg Harding

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is no ordinary archeologist. When we first see him, he is somewhere in the Peruvian jungle in 1936, running a booby-trapped gauntlet (complete with an over-sized rolling ... read more read more...boulder) to fetch a solid-gold idol. He loses this artifact to his chief rival, a French archeologist named Belloq (Paul Freeman), who then prepares to kill our hero. In the first of many serial-like escapes, Indy eludes Belloq by hopping into a convenient plane. So, then: is Indiana Jones afraid of anything? Yes, snakes. The next time we see Jones, he's a soft-spoken, bespectacled professor. He is then summoned from his ivy-covered environs by Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) to find the long-lost Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis, it seems, are already searching for the Ark, which the mystical-minded Hitler hopes to use to make his stormtroopers invincible. But to find the Ark, Indy must first secure a medallion kept under the protection of Indy's old friend Abner Ravenwood, whose daughter, Marion (Karen Allen), evidently has a "history" with Jones. Whatever their personal differences, Indy and Marion become partners in one action-packed adventure after another, ranging from wandering the snake pits of the Well of Souls to surviving the pyrotechnic unearthing of the sacred Ark. A joint project of Hollywood prodigies George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, with a script co-written by Lawrence Kasdan and Philip Kaufman, among others, Raiders of the Lost Ark is not so much a movie as a 115-minute thrill ride. Costing 22 million dollars (nearly three times the original estimate), Raiders of the Lost Ark reaped 200 million dollars during its first run. It was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), as well as a short-lived TV-series "prequel." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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93% liked it

808,555 ratings

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95% liked it

59 critics

PG, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Release Date: September 7, 2012

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DVD Release Date: October 21, 2003

Stats: 36,518 reviews

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Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Harrison Ford, Karen Allen indy you think you me? Professor Jones race against time I donīt know.I m making this up as i go Raiders of the Lost Ark Raiders of the Lost Ark soundtrack cover art adventure has a name:Indiana Jones are you ready? the man himself boulder dash i m making this up as i go. Indy Indiana Jones
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Flixster Reviews (36,518)

  • MovieGeek13
    April 27, 2013
    MovieGeek13
    I loved this movie. Loved it loved it loved it loved it loved it. Loved its sense of adventure. Loved the chemistry between Harrison Ford's artifact obsessed Indiana Jones and Karen Allen's headstrong, alcohol tolerant Marion. Loved the clever banter and witty dialogue. Loved the... read more evil villains who were portrayed by actors that made you hate their characters at every turn. Loved the humour that continually made you never take the film too seriously. Loved the car chases, shootouts, and hand to hand fight scenes. Loved the mysticism that revealed itself in the third act. Loved the mystery plot's seemless integration of history, fantasy, and archaeology. Loved Indiana's sidekick Sallah (played by a younger John Rhys-Davies). Loved the fact that no movie collection is complete without this masterpiece from director Steven Spielberg, writer Lawrence Kasdan, and producer George Lucas. This is nothing short of an incredible picture that is without a doubt one of the greatest movie adventures of all time.
  • fb733768972
    April 8, 2013
    fb733768972
    Raiders of the Lost Ark is pure cinematic entertainment at it's finest. Harrison Ford works wonders here as a fight for the possession of the wonderous ark is on the rise. The first half of the film is mostly buildup to the finale, but the second half of the film is where it real... read morely got me. The first half is a bit slow for my taste, but it picks up around the middle, creating a fantasy adventure for everyone to love. The ending made my jaw-drop, and the outcome is brilliant. Steven Spielberg directed the hell out of this film and it shows both visually and in the story on screen. I loved "Raiders of the Lost Ark" from start to finish. This is one fantastical action/adventure!
  • mumby1988
    February 12, 2013
    mumby1988
    Trying to analyse Indiana Jones is every bit at tricky as analysing Star Wars. Both have become such indelible parts of our popular culture that it often seems fatuous to question their legacy, with every year throwing up new examples of films which either directly imitate Lucas ... read moreand Spielberg or which owe a passing debt to them in some way.

    But if we attempt to wade through the reputation, and look under the brim of that famous fedora, how well does the original hold up after 32 years? In the case of Star Wars, a great deal of admiration remains for its technical proficiency, but its narrative and character shortcomings are increasingly in plain sight. The story of Raiders of the Lost Ark is every bit as fanciful in its roots and execution, but under Spielberg's guiding hand it soars, resulting in a truly great action film that barely misses a beat.

    For all the things you could feasibly hold against George Lucas, one thing he does deserve credit for is rescuing Spielberg's career. After the release of 1941, Spielberg's reputation had declined from a wunderkind who couldn't fail to a reckless liability. Studios had let the production delays on Jaws and Close Encounters slide due to their phenomenal grosses, but when 1941 failed to match these returns, the blank cheque was permanently torn up. To get back in Hollywood's good books, Spielberg had to demonstrate that he could make a wide-appeal film that would come in on-time and on-budget - on low-budget, to be exact.

    Looking at the two films side by side, it's hard to believe that Raiders and 1941 were made by the same man, let alone within two years of each other. Put simply, Raiders of the Lost Ark succeeds in every way that 1941 so dismally failed. Its storytelling is focussed and well-structured where 1941 was a meandering mess; its characters are memorable and well-developed inside of simply zany or kooky; the sets are properly lit and directed; and the comic timing is impeccable. It is indeed ironic that Lucas, who is neither a disciplined director nor a brilliant storyteller, should be the one to rein Spielberg in and get him back to what he always did best.

    Like many great low-budget works, so much of Raiders of the Lost Ark is the product of happy accidents. The project changed several times between Lucas first developing it and the cameras rolling, with the lead originally being called Indiana Smith and Spielberg wanting the Nazi Major Toht to have a robotic arm. But in addition much of the location shooting in Tunisia was blighted by crew illness due to poor quality food and the extreme heat. The now-iconic sword vs. gun scene was initially meant to involve Indiana fighting the swordsman with a whip, but on the day of shooting Harrison Ford had dysentery and couldn't perform the stunts. He allegedly said to Spielberg, "let's just shoot the f***er", and the rest is history.

    The key difference in quality between Star Wars and Indiana Jones lies in understanding the relationships between the films and the sources that inspired them. In my review of A New Hope, I remarked that Star Wars came from pulpy, pantomime stock but tried to pass itself off as something a little more serious. The mythology that Lucas constructed from a variety of difference sources may have brought depth to the characters' universe, but at the consequence of making the finished product seem more than a little po-faced.

    Raiders of the Lost Ark comes from exactly the same pulpy stock - boys'-own adventure stories, Saturday morning serials, 1940s B-movies and the like. But where Star Wars tries to eschew or overlook its predecessors, Raiders actively embraces them. It operates under the same logic and conventions of its predecessors, reinventing and updating the genre within these boundaries as it goes along. Spielberg is retelling old stories in his own style with his particular emphases, and sometimes he draws attention to the riper, more ridiculous elements in order that we may revel in them. Proof of this lies in John Williams' score; the main theme is fantastically distinctive, but the music also has a big role in the storytelling, reflecting the melodramatic roots of the series.

    If you stopped for any given length of time, you could begin to unpick the plot of Raiders without much difficulty. On top of the usual contrivances of characters just happening to converge in the right place and time, there are numerous practical questions which the story glosses over. If Indiana can so easily break his staff over his knee, why didn't it snap when he dropped it into the Well of Souls? Why didn't Belloq notice the digging on the hill (not to mention the singing) a lot sooner? How did the snakes get into the chamber and survive there for so long without any food? And how did the baskets get switched around so that Marian didn't get killed?

    While these are all valid questions in isolation, to linger on them too long would be to miss the point. None of these potential plot holes are problematic enough to undermine the overall story, and the film moves so fast and fluidly that you either don't notice them or they don't seem to matter. This is something that very much comes with the territory: the main priority of adventure stories is to keep things moving so that the audience is entertained. If it all ties up nicely in the end, that's a nice bonus, but a few loose ends can be allowed provided the pay-off is strong enough (and it is).

    One of the most distinctive features of Raiders is its pacing. Its opening sequence, from the Universal logo to the plane taking off, is perhaps the best-paced opening sequence to any 1980s film. There is not a single second that could have been cut out to make it more efficient or dramatic, and every single edit is in the right place, both to slowly reveal our main character and to crank up the tension when he's retrieving the idol. Even after its opening, the film barely misses a beat over nearly 2 hours, and when you're dealing with so many different twists and locations, that's quite an accomplishment.

    The great thing about Indiana Jones as a character is that he always feels human even when he accomplishes the extraordinary. In Star Wars the characters were archetypes that only became human in the later films; they were still enjoyable and likeable up to a point, but all too often convention got in the way of distinctive characterisation. Indiana Jones may well be pure masculinity, but Harrison Ford also brings a vulnerable quality to the role, allowing us to swoon over him one minute and admire him the next.

    The set-pieces in Raiders are all brilliantly constructed. Many of the more elaborate sequences, like the truck chase, were shot entirely by the second unit; they filmed as close as they could to Spielberg's storyboards, with the director shooting all of Ford's close-ups much later. But even then Spielberg deserves enormous credit for how well-developed these set-pieces are, with every one going through several movements and using the full potential of their settings and props. All the little touches are lovingly witty, whether it's the fruit on the end of an impaler's sword or the monkey doing the Hitler salute in the bar.

    Being the product of pulpy adventure stories, we should not take the film's comments on religion (in this case Judaism) any more seriously than its depiction of Nazis. The Ark of the Covenant is essentially a McGuffin, built up as something of significance but with its main purpose being to drive the plot forward. If, however, you do want to read into the symbolism, the film does allow you do so and gives you a little to chew on alongside your popcorn. From this perspective the film becomes about modernity, with Man questioning the rule of God and paying the consequences. It's a film in which intentions and morals are clearly emphasised; Indy and Marion survive because they didn't covet the Ark as a source of power. The series would return to these ideas in greater detail in Last Crusade some eight years later.

    The climax of the film sees these themes being brought to the foreground, in a special effects ending which has dated incredibly well. After a series of conventional jump scares, such as Marian falling through the skeletons, we get a series of great effects shots which put a series of scary faces on the wrath of God. The shift in the angel's face remains deeply terrifying, while the face-melting and head explosions (in a PG film!) are up there with anything Lucio Fulci or David Cronenberg were doing at the same time. It's an ending that meets our genre expectations while also breaking new ground, either in content or the extent of presentation.

    Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is a really great film which fully earns its reputation as one of the most iconic and influential works of the 1980s. Spielberg's direction is really first-rate, providing humour, thrills and plenty of heart to compliment the light-hearted story and the feisty performances of Harrison Ford and Karen Allen. Even after 32 years, all the sequels and a legion of imitators, it remains one of Spielberg's finest achievements, being a classic in its time and in ours.
  • c0up
    October 13, 2012
    c0up
    'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. Harrison Ford's mischievous, charming smile sums up this whole film. A landmark action adventure that's fun and exciting the whole way through.

    The Swordsman v Gun, ominous coat hanger, boulder escape, that brilliant car chase recovery. Gosh, so many ... read morebrilliant scenes.

    Spielberg's direction lets the action flow, and I love the way he plays with light and dark in the many memorable silhouettes throughout the film.

    Ford is simply dashing as the ruggedly handsome Dr. Jones. Again, that mischievous smile is so uniquely his. Oh, and Karen Allen, beautiful and sexy all at once.
  • samoriley
    September 9, 2012
    samoriley
    The original and best of Indiana Jones's adventures. Filled with so many recognized characters, lines and scenes, such as the infamous boulder escape. This is a major highlight for Harrison Ford as the legendary adventurer, whom is still praised as one of the greatest protagonist... read mores by all generations.
  • fb100000716838411
    September 8, 2012
    fb100000716838411
    Since I just saw this movie in IMAX, it's time for a new review of it. Raiders of the Lost Ark was made in 1981, so obviously, I wasn't alive to see it in theaters. The first time I saw it was when I bought it on DVD a few years ago and I loved it. I still love it to this day and... read more I got so much joy out of seeing it on the big screen. Raiders of the Lost Ark is about an archaeologist by the name of Indiana Jones on a quest to save the Ark of the Covenant, a religious item said to carry the ten commandments, from the Nazis. Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones and he's awesome in it. He's the hero that you root for no matter what and Ford is always good at making the character believable. Karen Allen plays the love interest and this movie was made back when she was hot. She's also not your stereotypical damsel in distress, she's the girl who stands up for herself and she kicks ass. (Take notes, Bella Swan.) The thing I like about Raiders is that it's the type of movie that isn't synthetic and it doesn't suffer from lacking any of its own charm. All the action scenes are exciting and there's humor added to any given situation. The one scene with comic relief that everybody remembers is when Indy comes face to face with a swordsman. The swordsman starts brandishing his sword around in a really stylish and badass way and Indy handles it by just simply shooting him and walking away like nothing ever happened. That scene never get old. The action scenes in Raiders are also great. The stuff that's happening on screen is what happened when the scene was actually being filmed. There's no special effects added and there's not an overload of CGI. The action scenes are genuine and authentic. For example, the truck chase scene. Indy is chasing the Nazis and he fights a nazi in the truck, he gets dragged along a dirt road, he's hanging onto the grill of the truck, it's all great. You really get the sense that Indy is in danger in this movie. Everything that happens in the movie feels important and you're on Indy's side the entire time. The musical score is one of the best things I've ever heard. John Williams conducted the music and he created one of the greatest movie scores of all time. If you've never heard the theme song for Indiana Jones, then you truly are living under a rock. I cannot praise this movie enough. It's my favorite action movie of all time, one of my favorite movies of all time and being able to sit in a theater and experience it was simply awesome.
  • fb1664868775
    July 22, 2012
    fb1664868775
    The introduction of one of my all time favorite characters is a blast to view. I can't recall having much more fun at the movies.
  • thmtsang
    July 15, 2012
    thmtsang
    The first of the Indiana Jones movies. Indy and Marion try to retrieve the Lost Ark from the Nazis. Great action movie.
  • blacksheepboy
    July 3, 2012
    blacksheepboy
    The first of the successful series, an exhilarating and entertaining adventure with a delicious humor, a charismatic protagonist and a lot of fast-paced action, where each scene is more exciting than the one before - and it never lets the spectator down or loses any pace.
  • FilmFanatik
    March 4, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    When it comes to adventure movies with class that are well-made pieces of cinema, I can't think of a better example than the brainchild of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. I'm talking about the great Raiders of the Lost Ark (or Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark as t... read morehey title it on the box art now). It's one of the last truly great action adventure films of the last thirty years that not only delivers on the genre's expectations, but also turns in remarkable performances, beautiful photography and incredible production values. It may have come first in the eventual series of films, but it's also the best. I also consider it to be one of the top five best films of Spielberg's entire career. Everything just came together like clockwork on this movie and it turned out better than anyone expected. It also holds up incredibly well as a dynamic and well-made popcorn movie. There would be sequels with the runaway success of the movie, of course, but this entry is a perfect mixture of talent, and it will never be topped, no matter how many sequels they make.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
August 8, 2011
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Raiders of the Lost Ark has it all -- or, anyway, more than enough to transport moviegoers back to the dazzling, thrill-sated matinee idyls of old. Full Review

Pauline Kael
May 27, 2008
Pauline Kael, New Yorker

The thrills are fully consumed while you're seeing this movie, and it's totally over when it's over. It's a workout. You feel as if you'd been to the desert digs: at the end your mind is blank, yet yo... Full Review

Stephen Klain
June 28, 2007
Stephen Klain, Variety

...a crackerjack fantasy-adventure that shapes its pulp sensibilities and cliff-hanging serial origins into an exhilarating escapist entertainment that will have broad-cased summer audiences in the pa... Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 28, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

One would think that a collaboration between Steven Spielberg and George Lucas would produce something better than this giggly pastiche of a Republic serial... Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Whether you swallow it or not, see it for a handful of totally unexpected visual jokes, worth the price of admission alone. Full Review

James Berardinelli
November 6, 2003
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

This is the kind of movie that, even today, audiences immediately fall in love with. It has all the right ingredients: a smart script, a likable hero, a dash of romance, more than a touch of comedy, a... Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

To get to the point immediately, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most deliriously funny, ingenious and stylish American adventure movies ever made. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is just plain fun. Full Review

Walter Chaw
October 15, 2012
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

impossibly good Full Review

Derek Malcolm
September 21, 2012
Derek Malcolm, This is London

As action adventure goes, it's about the best there is. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Sallah: Ah Indy why does the floor move?
    • Indiana Jones: Give me your torch.
    • Indiana Jones: Snakes why does there have to be Snakes?
    • Sallah: Asps very dangerous you first.
    • Marcus Brody: An army that carries the ark before it is invincible.
    • Satipo: Let's go. There's nothing to fear here.
    • Indiana Jones: [pushes him up against the wall] That's what scares me.
    • Indiana Jones: Jock, there's a snake in the plane!
    • Jock: Oh, that's just my pet.
    • Indiana Jones: I hate snakes, hate some much.
    • Indiana Jones: Trust me.
    • Toht: What shall we talk about?
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Raiders of the Lost Ark Trivia

  • In the movie "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the lost ark" what does Indiana Jones replace for the gold statue, eventually resulting with the large boulder being released?  Answer »
  • The movies in the Indiana Jones saga were released out of sequence. What is the proper order of the films?  Answer »
  • Name the movie that features this quote: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"  Answer »
  • "This site also demonstrates one of the great dangers of archaeology, not to life and limb, although that does sometimes take place, I'm talking about folklore." Name the movie:  Answer »
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